Tablet and suppository press



JONA S LANGERMAN INVENTOR ATTORNEY Reissued Sept. 10, 1940 UNITED STATES TABLET AND SUPPOSITORY PRESS Jonas Langerman, New York, N. Y., assignor of one-half to Sol Gaswirth, Brooklyn, N. Y.

Original No. 2,149,739, dated March 7, 1939, Serial No. 215,432, June 23, 1938.

Application for reissue November 17, 1939, Serial No. 305,889

6 Claims.

This invention relates generally to a press for forming tablets, lozenges and suppositories, but more specically to a press wherein the sizes of the tablets, lozenges and suppositories are made variable without the use of extra parts and wherein the same parts of the press also serve as an adjustable measuring cup for dispensing or packaging of pharmaceutical powders.

The main object of the invention resides in the provision f a press wherein the same parts are adaptable to make tablets, lozenges and suppositories of various sizes; wherein the press is comprised of a minimum number of simple parts; wherein the press is easy to operate, economical to manufacture, and employable also as a measuring device.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a press which is portable, whose parts are adjustable and which is light in weight.

These objects and other incidental ends and advantages of the invention will hereinafter appear in the progress of the disclosure and as pointed out in the appended claims.

Accompanying this specification is a drawing showing a preferred form of the invention wherein corresponding reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein:

Figure 1 is a front view in elevation of the press part being shown in section.

Figure 2 is a front View in elevation partly in section showing a compression block with which the press cooperates.

Figure 3 is a vertical, sectional View of Figure l.-

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing the press adjusted to an elongated position.

Figure 5 is similar to Figure of the compression block partly in section showing a suppository mold therein.

In accordance with the invention and in accordance with the preferred form thereof shown in the drawing, the press comprises a plunger shaft II) having a pounding member II at the bottom thereof, the said shaft having its upper portion threaded. A tube I3 is adapted to be in slidable engagement with shaft il), the pounding member II serving as a lower stop therefor.

A springably returnable depressing member I4 is adapted to be slidably engageable with the upper portion of tube I3, the said member having a top head I5 provided with a central and internally threaded orifice for engagement with the threaded portion i2 of the plunger shaft. A

lock nut I6 is provided for head I5, While a coiled compression spring I?, adapted to make the depressing member I4 is returnable after hand pressure is applied to lock nut I6, lies between the outer surface of shaft portion I3 and the inner surface of the depressing member I4, the said spring Il' being held at the upper and lower limits between the undersurface of head l5 and the upper edge oi tube I3.

A slidably engageable barrel member is adaptf ed to be adjustably ailixed to the tube I3 by means of a set screw I 9 mounted on circular flange 20. Shaft tube I3 may be provided with calibrations 2i whereby the volume of a receptacle 22 formed between the undersurfiace of pounding member II and the inne-r walls of barrel 22 near the bottom is adjustable. Thus, by loosening set screw I9 and moving barrel I8 to an upper position along tube I3, receptacle 22 becomes smaller in volume'. By moving barrel I8 to a lower position along tube I3 as is shown in Figure 4, the volume is increased as indicated by numeral 23.

The pounding member II is forced downwardly within barrel I3 by applying hand pressure to the springably returnable depressing member I4, the latter having the upper end of barrel I8 to serve as a stop for the lower limit of the said depressing member. A compression block 25 is provided with a tablet or lozenge mold 2S on one side and a suppository mold 21 on the other side, the said molds cooperating with and engaging the lower portion of barrel I8.

The press as described is suitable for the formation of tablets, suppositories, lozenges and is also employable as a measuring device.

In the formation of tablets, the material therefor is contained in a suitable container, the material being moistened or dampened with a proper liquid mixture similar to that used in making tablet triturates. The graduations 2l are calibrated for specic weights of U. S. P. milk of sugar, when the latter is used as a vehicle. For any other substance the adjustment of the press is determined by weighing the tablet material, inserting the seme in receptacle 22 while the press is inverted and while the set screw i9 is loose and compressing the stored material in receptacle 22 by compressing it lightly in block 25. After such compression, the set screw I9 is tightened. In this fashion, the receptacle 22 is adjusted so that the operator in preparing to make up tablets of the aforementioned weight, merely dips the press rmly into the tablet substance, removes the press therefrom and places it into mold 25. A knock with the palm of the hand on lock nut I6 compresses the tablet against the bottom surface of mold E, the formed tablet remaining within the lower part of the barrel below pounding member Il. The 'tablet is then pushed out by means of compression of plunger IU aiter the block 25 has been removed from the press.

For the formation of suppositories, the same method of procedure is adopted except that the plunger shaft I0 is elongated relative to head I5. In order to elongate shaft I0, the lock nut I6 is removed as well as barrel member I8. Ihe pounding member I I is grasped by the finger and rotated about head I5, whereby the shaft I becomes elongated. Such adjustable elongation or shortening of shaft I0 controls the distance which pounding member II projects from the lower edge of barrel I8 when the depressing member I4 is at its lower limit. The pressing member engages with suppository mold 21 instead of tablet mold 26 for the formation of suppositories.

In the formation of lozenges, the same construction is used as for the formation of tablets except that all the parts are enlarged.

Where itis desired to use the press as a measuring cup, the operator inverts the press and loosens set screw I9 so that barrel I8 is slidable along the shaft tube I3. The barrel I8 is raised above the pounder II while pouring powder in the receptacle formed thereby. Thereafter, block 25 is placed over the end of barrel I8 and the said barrel is released until it comes to a stop. At this point, the set screw I9 is tightened. In this fashion, the pressis used as a measuring device by merely dipping the implement into the powder to be dispensed with a firm and even pressure. Thereafter, the powder is forced out into narrow containers or any desired receptacles by depressing plunger shaft I0.

I wish it understood that minor changes and variations in the integration, material, location and movability of the parts, may all be resorted to without departing from the spirit of the invention and without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Y I claim:

1. A tablet, lozenge and suppository press comprising a compression block having a mold therein, a plunger having a. pounding member at the end thereof, a tube slidably engaging said plunger above the pounding member, a springably returnable depressing member' for the plunger secured to the said plunger and being in slidable engagement with the upper end of said tube, a. barrel member adjustably secured to the tubular member and forming a receptacle at the bottom the-reof with the pounding member, the top of the barrel member serving as a stop for the depressing member, the lower end of the barrel member being adapted to engage the mold of the compression block whereby on forcing the plunger downwardly, compression in part at least of the tablet, lozenge and suppository material takes l place within the barrel below the lower surface of the pounding member.

2. A tablet, lozenge and suppository press comprising a compression block having a mold therein, a body member, a plunger having a pounding member at the end thereof, the said plunger above the pounding member being in slidable engagement within said body member and contacting substantially the entire interior surface thereof, springably returnable means secured to the plunger for depressing the latter, a barrel member adjustably secured to the body member and forming-a receptacle at the bottom thereof with the pounding member, said receptable being capable of having its length, but not its diameter, varied the lower end of the barrel member being adapted to engage the mold of the compression block whereby on forcing the plunger downwardly, compression in part at least of the tablet, lozenge and suppository material takes place with' in the barrel below the lower surface of the pounding member.

3. A tablet, lozenge and suppository press comprising a compression block having a mold therein, a body member, a movable pounding member in slidable engagement within said body member and contacting substantially the'entire interior surface thereof, springably returnable means secured to the pounding member for depressing the latter, a barrel member adjustably secured to the body member and forming with the pounding member, a receptable of variable size as to its vertical height but being of the same diameter throughout its length, the lower end of the barrel member being adapted to engage the mold of the compression block whereby on forcing the pounding member downwardly compression in part at least of the tablet, lozenge and suppository material takes place within the barrel below the lower surface of the pounding member.

4. In a tablet, lozenge and suppository press, a body member, a movable pounding member in slidable engagement within said body member and contacting substantially they entire interior surface thereof, springably returnable means secured to the pounding member for depressing the latter, a barrel member adjustably secured to the body member and forming with the pounding member, a receptacle of variable size as to its vertical height but being of the same diameter throughout; its length.

5. A tablet, lozenge, and suppository press mechanism adapted for cooperation with a compression block having a mold there-in, said press mechanism comprising a plunger having a pounding member at the end thereof, a tube slidably engaging said plunger above the pounding member, a springably returnable depressing member for the plunger secured to the plunger and being in slidable engagement with the upper end of said tube, a barrel member a-djustably secured to the tubular member and forming a receptacle at the bottom thereof with the pounding member, the top of the barrel member serving as a stop for the depressing member, the lower end of the barrel member being adapted for engagement with the mold of the compression block, whereby, on forcing the plunger downwardly, compression of the tablet, lozenge, and suppository material takes place between the lower surface of the pounding member and the lower part of the cavity of the compression block.

6. A tablet, lozenge, and suppository press mechanism adapted for cooperation with a compression block having a mold therein, said press mechanism comprising a body member, a movable pounding member in slidable engagement within said body member and contacting substantially ,the entire interior surface thereof. springably returnablemeanssecured to the pounding member for depressing the latter, a barrel member adjustably secured to the body member and forming with the poundingV member, a receptable of variable size as to its vertical height but; being of the same diameter throughout its length, the lower end of the barrel member being adapted to engage the mold of the compression block, whereby, on forcing the pounding member downwardly, compression of the tablet, lozenge, and suppository material takes place between the lower surface of the pounding member and the lower part of the cavity of the compression block.

JQNAS LANGERMAN. 

